Weak Sounds /i/ and /u/
The sounds represented by weak vowels /i/ and /u/ must always be made different, as in heat /ˈhi:t/ compared with hit /ˈhɪt/. The sound /i/ represents a vowel that can be sounded as either /i:/ or /ɪ/, or as a sound which is a compromise between them. In a word such as happy /ˈhæpi/, younger speakers use a quality more lie /i:/, but short in duration.
The /i/ sound is used when it is in an unstressed syllable followed by a vowel, or the vowel like consonants in linking (called Neutralization).
Linking refers to adding a sound in order to join two words together.
Example:
he /hi:/
ask /ˈæsk/
he ask /ˈhiæsk/
In the same way, the two vowels represented by /u:/ and /ʊ/ must be kept distinct but /u/ represents a weak vowel that varies between them. If /u/ is followed directly by a consonat sound, it can also be pronounced as /ə/. So stimulate can be /ˈstɪmjuˌleɪt/ or /ˈstɪmjəˌleɪt/.
The /u/ sound is used when it is in an unstressed syllable followed by a vowel, or the vowel like consonants in linking (called Neutralization).
Examples:
to /ˈtu:/
ask /ˈæsk/
to ask /ˈtuæsk/
Who /ˈhu:/
would /ˈwʊd/
Who would /ˈhuwʊd/
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